7.

Draco couldn't particularly see straight anymore, and he was trying to count the empty glasses on the table, coming to the conclusion that it were too many.

He may have been a little drunk, but Hermione was pissed. With everything he said she would start giggling, which would make him laugh in return. He was holding his last drink – or so he told himself now for three drinks in a row – and watching Hermione looking contently around her, her hair wilder than he had seen before and a faint smile playing around her lips. Her lips.

He couldn't help but stare at her and study her face and manners. He had forbidden himself to even glance at her when they were still in school, unless he was thinking of an insult, so he thought he had some catching up to do. He always thought brown eyes were quite boring, but there was something intriguing about hers. They didn't seem to be plain brown, but with hints of gold hidden. Her eyes were actually quite nice when you looked a little closer.

Which, he realized, he was doing a little too literally. He had been leaning closer to her without realizing, and Hermione only now seemed to notice. She looked at him with a confused look in her eyes, her cheeks colouring slightly as she looked back at him, searching his face for an answer to a question she had not asked yet. ''You really shouldn't be this close to me, Malfoy. I might do something we'll both regret.'' He was supposed to pull back now. To forget this night and go home. Instead he lingered, a voice in the back of his head whispering to him.

''What would her lips taste like? Don't you want to find out? You're not the only one to wonder. Victor Krum did. The Weasel did. Even Blaise did at some point.'' He didn't want to listen to it. He didn't want to hear it, and he was trying to find a voice of reason but the alcohol appeared to have seized his thoughts. He was leaning in a little further, his eyes set on her lips, wondering how they would feel against his own.

Hermione was staring back at him with glazed eyes and a look as if she was having an argument with herself and convince herself, like he was trying to do to himself. The moment was shattered by some arse bumping into their table, knocking over some glasses.

He shot the man a dirty glance but decided not to do anything since he didn't trust himself with duelling at the moment. Instead he got up, putting on his cloak. ''Let's go,'' he said quite irritated by the disturbance. She got up and got her cloak and briefcase, swaying a bit as she followed him to the exit.

When they went outside he quickly put his arm around Hermione to keep her from falling flat on her face. ''Such a gentleman,'' she sighed while leaning heavily against him. ''Never would've dreamt of you saying that about me,'' Draco said while smirking.

He hated to admit it but it felt kind of nice, holding her like that. He would probably – no, absolutely – regret doing this in the morning, but right now he just couldn't bring himself to care. All he really cared about was how long it had been since he had been close this close to someone, and he welcomed the warmth that her small frame brought him.

''Draco… Why d'you hate me?'' she was talking rather slurred, but the question was clear enough.

''To be honest, I can't think of one good reason.''

''Oh.''

She didn't say much for the rest of the walk, seemingly content walking while leaning against him. He vaguely remembered where her house should be so he guided her home, desperately hoping there was no paparazzi around to capture them walking like this since it could send the wrong message. ''Draco..'' the way she said his name seemed to stir something inside of him which he tried to repress desperately.

''Hmm?''

''I just really want to thank you for the tea.. Long time since someone made me tea..''

Draco couldn't help but laugh at the dramatic way she said it. That didn't fall in good nature with her. ''Don't laugh at me you arse!'' She pushed him away and walked on furiously, almost bumping into a pole. He quickly caught her by the shoulders to keep her steady, but she was so out of balance he almost fell himself. ''I just never heard someone say that in such a dramatic tone! Jeez Granger, I think you may have bruised me.'' She smiled a bit apologetic and patted his face. ''I'm truly sorry Malfoy, I only ever wanted to bruise your ego. No, wait that's a lie. I did intend to bruise you physically.'' She laughed, her eyes lighting up a little bit and her cheeks pink.

Even though he should be annoyed by the comment, the way she laughed was infectious and soon he found himself smiling back at her. ''You're drunk, Granger.'' ''What if I am? I haven't felt this good in days, and tomorrow I'll probably feel like shit again so if I am drunk so be it.'' He raised an eyebrow at that statement. It made him feel mixed feelings.

It was a little sad that this was the high of her week. It made him wonder what was going on behind that impeccable mask of formality and professionality. He softly urged her on to walk on since they were almost at her place, but started to dread leaving her the closer they came to her front door.

''Hey, you've brought me home,'' she noted softly. She broke free of his grasp and hurried to her door. He almost thought she would just go in without saying so much as a ''see you tomorrow'' to him, when she hesitated and turned around.

She walked back to him, staring at him intently, clearly thinking of something. He could feel the way his body tensed when she was this close to him, reacting to her in a way he didn't think was possible when it came to… well, Hermione Granger. '' 'You really shouldn't be this close to me, Granger. I might do something we'll both regret.'' He repeated her words with a slight smirk. ''Maybe we won't regret it,'' she whispered, her golden eyes locked on his own grey ones. ''Only one way to find out,'' he replied softly before closing the space between them and catching her lips with his own.

She had to stand on her tiptoes, and Draco had to lean down a little for them to be both comfortable. He gently cupped her face with his hands, while she put her hands on his chest. Kissing her was better than any drink in the world. He didn't know if it was because they were both drunk, but right now all he could think about was how soft her lips felt against his and how it felt like he could conquer the world.

He tried to deepen the kiss, and she let him, responding enthusiastically. She had wrapped her arms around his neck, pressed up against him when she suddenly stepped back, breaking the kiss. She looked a little dazzled, staring at him with a baffled look in her eyes. ''We shouldn't have done this,'' she said softly before taking her briefcase and walking over to her door. Something dawned on him when he watched her walk away.

She was only leaving because it was the right thing to do. She always chose for the right thing to do, at least in her own eyes. She was still trying to please that fucking Weasel and Scarhead even though they apparently deserted her. She was fuelling herself with work and the desperate thought that those idiots would come back to her. He grimaced when he had to admit to himself that he had been in that same spot with his parents and friends just a few years back, and that he would curse himself if he walked away now.

He quickly walked up to her and took her hand, which made her turn around. ''Please, don't…'' the last bit came out trembling, when he could see the tears pooling in her tired eyes. ''You still owe me a tea,'' he said quite matter-of-fact. ''You don't think I just make tea for everyone without expecting the favour to be returned, do you?'' he had said it rather airy, his tone quite neutral.

Hermione shot him a confused look first, before a watery smile broke through. ''I'll need a rain check on that, I think.'' ''No problem, I'll pick you up tomorrow morning at 8.'' She raised an eyebrow and shook her head in amazement. ''You really don't take no for an answer, do you?'' ''We Slytherins use any means to achieve our ends.'' He smirked at her before turning around and walking away down the street, shooting into one of the back alleys to apparate home.


Hermione woke up the next morning with the feeling as if someone had been pounding on her head with a hammer the whole night.

She sat up, groaning as she held her head in a desperate way to minimize the severe headache. She frowned, trying to decipher why she had woken up. She didn't remember turning her alarm off.

Her question was answered when she heard her doorbell ringing. ''What the…'' she slowly got out of bed and stumbled to the door, wondering who in the world was bothering her this early. She had counted on sleeping in today, considering she had done a weeks' worth of work two nights ago.

She opened the door grumpily, and almost jumped when she saw Malfoy standing in front of her. He looked her up and down with one raised eyebrow. Hermione looked down and blushed when she realised she hadn't put a robe on before opening the door, standing in blue sleeping shorts and an oversized sleeping shirt.

He just opened his mouth to say something when she slammed the door in his face, hitting herself on the head. ''The tea! Shit.'' She hurried to her wardrobe and quickly put on a pencil skirt that was lying somewhere in the back and a periwinkle blouse.

She shot a glance in the mirror and decided that her hair was a lost cause, before slapping on a pair of navy low heels, spraying deodorant and perfume as she hurried back to the door. She got her coat from the coat peg, and grabbed her bag before quickly opening the door again.

She had been a little afraid that he would've left already, but he was still standing there, leaning against a wall and looking at some muggles passing by. He turned his head when he heard the door close again, looking accusingly at her. ''You forgot.'' ''I did not! I just… lost track of time.'' He rolled his eyes before walking away from her, going right. She hurried after him, trying to tame her hair as she did. She caught up with him, eying him, not sure what to say. He seemed to be avoiding looking at her, which wasn't making it any easier. ''Did you get home well?'' she asked, trying to get a conversation going. ''Wouldn't be here if I didn't, would I?'' she rolled her eyes, scowling at the ground.

''I was just trying to be nice,'' she muttered. '

'Yeah, that's your problem. You always try to be this perfect being when you really can't. It's impossible, so just stop trying to please everyone. You'd really do everyone a big favour.''

She couldn't believe her ears. She stopped walking, wondering if only she wished hard enough he would drop dead on the spot. He continued walking for a few seconds, before stopping too and turning around with an annoyed look on his face. ''What?'' he asked her aggravated and a little uncomfortable.

Hermione frowned before walking up to him, placing her hands on his chest- and shoving him as hard as she could. She watch him stumble backwards, just being able to keep himself from falling.

''What the fuck Granger?''

''Oh, I'm sorry, did that hurt? Maybe if you'd stop being such a big fucking pissbaby you'd really do everyone a big favour!''

His face seemed to darken as he stepped towards her, getting a little too close for her taste, considering he might not be too happy with her. She let her hand wander to the pocket of coat where she put her wand, but before she could reach it he had seized her hand, holding her at her wrist a little too tight.

There was a ferocity in his eyes she had never seen before. She could feel her heart beating faster, which she blamed on her fear. He looked a little taken back by the look in her eyes, because suddenly he was smirking. ''Last night you didn't seem to mind me being so close to you.'' She rolled her eyes, her cheeks reddening when she thought back.

She hated to admit it, but he was right. And even now she didn't seem to mind that much. When he got this close to her, the storm of thoughts that normally rummaged through her head seemed to quiet down a little. All she seemed to be able to concentrate on was either how much she loathed him and wanted to punch his smug face, or kiss the hell out of it. She swiftly pulled her wrist free, taking a step backwards.

''I'm sorry for shoving you, it was not…nice.'' He rolled his eyes before looking back at her. '''See? There you go again. We really need to work on that if you want to climb out of the sinkhole you landed yourself in.'' Before she could react he grabbed her hand and pulled her along.

''I'm due for some tea,'' she heard him mutter under his breath.